After nine days of competition, with the team event and now the individuals at the 2020 European Junior Championships, the medals are in sight for the continent’s young top talents. 

Men’s singles

In arguably the unofficial final of the men’s singles, fans get to watch a re-run of Christo Popov versus Magnus Johannesen. The only previous encounter was at the Dutch Junior earlier this year, with Popov taking the match in the deciding game, 21-15. 

Johannesen has turned heads after a win over Anders Antonsen in the Danish nationals and put on an impressive performance against Alex Lanier in the team event final, helping Denmark win the Championship title. While number one seed Popov has been putting in strong showings at senior tournaments and the silver medallist from 2018 has played a leader’s role in the French team campaign. He wants the gold. 

Scotland’s Callum Smith is the only unseeded quarterfinalist after putting in a top performance against eighth-seeded Jacobo Fernandez. 

There will also be an eye-catching clash between neighbours Finland and Russia, with Joakim Oldorff aiming to defeat Georgii Lebedev to enter into the medals on home soil. 

MS quarterfinals:

Christo Popov (FRA) (1) vs Magnus Johannesen (DEN) (6)

Matthias Kicklitz (GER) (4) vs Callum Smith (SCO)

Georgii Lebedev (RUS) (5) vs Joakim Oldorff (FIN) (3)

Yanis Gaudin (FRA) (7) vs Mads Juel Møller (DEN) (2)

Women’s singles

The biggest talking point of the tournament has been the 14-year-old, Nella Nyqvist, who is still undefeated in the women’s singles here. The left-hander has made people really think whether we are witnessing the early stages of a future superstar. 

The European U15 Champion is one step away from the medals and will have to get past the second seed, Amy Tan of the Netherlands. 

With the early exit of third seed Ania Setien, unseeded Swede, Edith Urell, has booked her place to fight for medals. Dane Benedicte Sillassen, who had that big win for Denmark in the team event, also makes it as an unseeded player. After a few close shaves along the way, she now faces number one seed, Anastasiia Shapovalova. 

WS quarterfinals:

Anastasiia Shapovalova (RUS) (1) vs Benedicte Sillassen (DEN)

Marija Sudimac (SRB) (4) vs Lucia Rodriguez (ESP) (8)

Mariia Golubeva (RUS) (6) vs Edith Urell (SWE)

Nella Nyqvist (FIN) vs Amy Tan (NED) (2)

Men’s doubles 

The loudest cheer of this mornings round three came when Italy made history with their first-ever quarterfinal. Matteo Massetti and Luca Zhou were able to deliver this achievement after knocking out fourth seeds, De Pablo/ Fernandez. 

Czech pair Brazda and Dostal surprised the Austrian eighth seeds yesterday, but the Swedish pair of Filip Karlborg and Tom Soderstrom were too strong and booked their place in the final eight. 

MD quarterfinals:

Egor Kholkin/ Georgii Lebedev (RUS) (1) vs Christian Faust Kjær/ Marcus Rindshøj (DEN) (7)

Matteo Massetti/ Luca Zhou (ITA) vs Matthias Schnabel/ Kilian Ming-Zhe Maurer (GER) (6) 

Sergej Lukic/ Mihajlo Tomic (SRB) (5) vs Jacobo Fernandez/ Ruben Garcia (ESP) (3)

Filip Karlborg/ Tom Söderström (SWE) vs William Kryger Boe/ Mads Vestergaard (DEN) (2)

Women’s doubles

The most open category with just one seed left standing. Number one seeds Anastasiia Boiarun/ Alena Iakovleva will be hopeful they can deliver the goods with this golden opportunity. 

Clara Løber/ Mette Werge knocked out the determined Swiss number four seeds, Franconville/ Racloz, 21-19 in the decider of a gruelling match. Ukraine’s Polina Buhrova/ Mariia Stoliarenko scored a well-fought victory over the number three seeds from Italy, Katharina Fink/ Yasime Hamza, but now face a strong French pair who have proven in Finland that they are a force to be reckoned with. 

WD quarterfinals: 

Anastasiia Boiarun/ Alena Iakovleva (RUS) (1) vs Jessica Silvennionen/ Cecilia Wang (SWE)

Clara Løber/ Mette Werge (DEN) vs Sona Horinkova/ Katerina Mikelova (CZE)

Flavie Vallet/ Emilie Vercelot (FRA) vs Polina Buhrova/ Mariia Stoliarenko (UKR)

Leona Michalski/ Thuc Phuong Nguyen (GER) vs Lucie Krpatova/ Katerina Zuzakova (CZE)

Mixed doubles

Team Russia will be very satisfied with their mixed doubles showing, having three out of eight pairs flying the Russian flag. The number one seeds will have perhaps the toughest clash, as they play Mads Vestergaard vs Clara Løber who proved their form in a vital win in the team event final. 

Gustav Bjorkler/ Edith Urell scored the biggest upset in the mixed doubles when they stunned second seeds Aaron Sonnenschien/ Leona Michalski in two swift games. They play the unseeded Egor Velp/ Elena Filippova and could well be the surprise partnership this year. 

XD quarterfinals:

Lev Barinov/ Anastasiia Boiarun (RUS) (1) vs Mads Vestergaard vs Clara Løber (DEN)

Matthias Kicklitz/ Thuc Phuong Nguyen (GER) (4) vs Viacheslav Yakovlev/ Polina Tkach (UKR)

Egor Kholkin/ Regina Galiakhmetova (RUS) vs Christo Popov/ Flavie Vallet (FRA)

Egor Velp/ Elena Filippova (RUS) vs Gustav Bjorkler/ Edith Urell (SWE)

Watch all the quarterfinals action starting from 17:00 (local time) in full HD on badmintoneurope.tv